A group of weekly papers have launched a campaign to raise £40,000 in just 10 weeks towards the UK’s first specialist centre to help those who have suffered strokes.

The Bromsgrove Standard, Droitwich Standard and Redditch Standard have joined forces with The Stroke Association, which wants to create the £2.2m centre at a site in Bromsgrove.

Under the ‘Stick it to Stroke’ campaign, they are calling on readers to cut out a coupon in the paper and stick a £1 or £2 coin on it to donate to the appeal.

The Bromsgrove Standard exclusively revealed the charity had chosen a site in the town as the location of its planned new centre on its front page last week, pictured below.

Editor Tristan Harris, who leads the Bromsgrove and Droitwich titles, said: “In Bromsgrove, Droitwich and South Birmingham alone, we go to more than 36,000 homes, which means if every household gave just one pound or more, that total could soon be reached.”

The idea for the creation of the centre first came about two years ago and The Stroke Association began its search for a site, choosing Bromsgrove because of its location at the centre of the country.

It aims to revolutionise the way people are supported after they have suffered a stroke, with the centre offering specialist help, including allowing them to learn new skills or regain old ones they lost because of the illness.

It will also provide training facilities for health staff and family members, while the charity will move its national helpline to the building.

People can also donate to the papers’ appeal online and those who donate more than £15 will be recognised with a ‘Tree of Giving’ leaf in the reception of the centre.